I think if we were honest with ourselves we would admit that mush of our lives are spent trying to get someone to notice us. When we were kids, we wanted our parents to watch us and be proud of us. Madison can hardly ride her horse sometimes for watching to see if we are watching. As we grow older, we try real hard to get someone of the opposite sex to notice us. When we entered into the job force, we strived to get the person in command to notice us so we could possible get a raise or a promotion. We want people to notice us. We want people to know who we are and what we are doing. You may say well that all sounds good but I don't know if I buy into that theory. One word,,, Facebook....
Do the right people know us? What kind of name are we really making known for ourselves? I want to share with you story from Scripture that few people ever talk about but I find the incident very intriguing. Its found in Acts 19:11-16. Paul had just finished healing some of the sick and casting out some demons. Some Jewish witch doctors thought that was cool and they would like to do that so they went up to man who was possessed by a demon. They spoke to the man and they commanded the demon to come in the name of Jesus that Paul talked about. That is the way they said it, the name of Jesus that Paul talked about. The demon talks back to the Jews and says, " We know Jesus, and we know Paul, but who are you?"
What happens next is sad but you can't help but laugh. The demon took over the mans body and whipped the Jews real bad. The Bible says they left wounded and naked. Anytime you leave a fight naked, you know that couldn't have been good for you. "Well I almost had him, no you didn't, you're naked" I can't help but laugh a little on the inside about that. Let's talk briefly about the sad part. These men didn't want to know Jesus really. They were mere pretenders and even the demons in Hell knew they were pretenders. Do we have modern day pretenders today? Absolutely, we do.
Lets ponder for just a moment on some of the requirements to get someone to church these days. Lets look at some of the things we do to cater to people trying to get them to come.
1. Easy to join 5. maybe a little fog
2. I want my Latte or Mocha please 6. Sermon-20-22 minutes tops
3. The seats better be comfy
4. I want the music poppy, have some bounce
The biggest thing now, don't talk about Jesus, just talk about an issue.
I was on a website recently of a church back in my hometown and I looked at their bulletin. They used a huge paragraph talking about how they hoped it was okay with the congregation that they moved the fellowship time. Are you serious? Does it really matter for time and eternity when we shake hands or when we take up the offering? Churches suffer from the mile wide, inch deep syndrome. If you find yourself being someone who has to have these requirements before you will go to church or you are one who raises a fuss about the order of service, what truly is your purpose?
The sad part in all this we are losing sight of our mission. We are to make a difference in the world. We are leave a mark on society. We are to be changers. Noone should be the same leaving our presence. Does the demons in Hell know your name? Do they keep an eye on what we are doing or are we like the Jewish witch doctors who pretend and just throw around Jesus' name to get what we want? They know Jesus. They knew Paul. Do they know you or have you been whipped and left wounded and naked before God.
I am John Sowders and I am Second..!!!!!
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